High speed plug

ABSTRACT

A communication plug including a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface, opposing side surfaces and opposing end surfaces, a grounding plane in the substrate, a grounding strip on a side surface of the substrate in electrical communication with the grounding plane, where the grounding strip is electrically connected to the ground plane in the substrate.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present disclosure is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/910,728, filed on Mar. 2, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S.application Ser. No. 14/952,458, filed on Nov. 25, 2015, which claimsthe benefit of and the priority from U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/195,027, filed Jul. 21, 2015, each of which is incorporated byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current network plug technology limits the amount of data that can betransmitted from a cable connected to one portion of a plug to a deviceconnected to a second portion of the plug. As data communication speedsincrease, the need to provide a properly grounded connection between twopoints becomes critical.

Currently, grounding of network connections requires manual manipulationof a grounding wire to a plug. Often, this manual manipulation results man improper ground connection that may result in loss of datatransmission due to transient signals. Further, manual manipulation ofthe plug requires additional man hours to terminate and test eachconnection, thereby increasing costs of installation of networkconnection points.

A need exists for a plug that creates a proper ground connection withoutmanual manipulation of the plug.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a communication plugthat may include a substrate having a top surface, a bottom surface,opposing side surfaces and opposing end surfaces, a grounding plane inthe substrate, a grounding strip on a side surface of the substrate inelectrical communication with the grounding plane wherein the groundingstrip is electrically connected to the ground plane in the substrate.

In another embodiment, the plug may include a plurality of openings inthe sides of the substrate.

In another embodiment, the plug may include a plurality of pin vias inone of the substrate.

In another embodiment, the plug may include a plurality of wire vias inthe substrate, the wire vias being located adjacent to each opening.

In another embodiment, the plug may include a connection pad formed onthe surface of the substrate around each wire via.

In another embodiment, the connection pad may include a circular portionextending around the periphery of the wire vias and a triangular portionextending from the circular portion towards an opening in the substrate.

In another embodiment, the plug may include a plurality of traces on thetop surface of the substrate, each trace extending from a pin via to aconnection pad.

In another embodiment, the plug may include at least two of theplurality of traces are on the bottom of the substrate.

In another embodiment, the plug may include a securing unit having aportion inserted into the wire via and a portion covering the connectionpad.

In another embodiment, the plug may include a second grounding adjacentto the grounding plane in the substrate.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure may include a method offorming a communication plug including the steps of forming a bottomlayer of a substrate, forming a sub layer on the bottom layer, the sublayer including a first grounding plane, forming a middle layer on thegrounding layer, the middle layer having a grounding plane, forming atop layer on the substrate, forming pin vias in the substrate, formingopenings in opposing sides of the substrate, forming wire vias adjacentto each opening in the substrate, forming a grounding surface onopposite sides of the substrate on the top layer and bottom layer of thesubstrate, the grounding surface being in electrical communication withthe first grounding layer and the second grounding layer, and formingtraces on the top layer and bottom layer between the wire vias and pmvias.

In another embodiment, the method may include the step of inserting apin in each pin via.

In another embodiment, the method may include the step of forming aconnection pad around each wire via.

In another embodiment, the method may include the step of forming theconnection pad includes the step of forming a circular portion extendingaround the periphery of the wire vias and forming a triangular portionextending from the circular portion towards an opening in the substrate.

In another embodiment, the method may include the step of forming thetraces includes forming the traces from each pin via to a correspondingconnection pad.

In another embodiment, the method may include the step of inserting thesubstrate into a plug housing, the plug housing having openings in sidesurface so of the housing that correspond to the openings formed in thesubstrate.

In another embodiment, the method of forming the traces may includeforming a first group of traces on the top surface of the substrate anda second group of traces on the bottom surface of the substrate.

In another embodiment, the method may include the step of inserting apin on a from portion of a securing into each wire via and positioning alower portion of the securing unit over the connection pad correspondingto the wire via accepting the pin.

In another embodiment, the housing may include a plurality of openingsover the pin vias, each opening being sized to accommodate a pin.

In another embodiment, each securing unit may secure one wire inelectrical communication with a connection pad.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Details of the present invention, including non-limiting benefits andadvantages, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skillin the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed descriptionand accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A depicts a high speed communication plug that is consistent withthe present disclosure;

FIG. 1B depicts a close up view of the via and solder pad with the IDCremoved;

FIG. 1C depicts a side view of the plug including an IDC installed in avia;

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of a bottom layer of a multi-layer high speedplug;

FIG. 3 depicts a top view of a second layer of a multi-layer high speedplug;

FIG. 4 depicts a top view of a third layer of a multi-layer high speedplug;

FIG. 5 depicts a top view of a upper layer of the multi-layer high speedplug;

FIG. 6 depicts a top layer of the multi-layer high-speed plug;

FIG. 7 discloses a top view of a lower layer of the multi-layer plug;

FIG. 8 depicts one embodiment of a plug;

FIG. 9 depicts the plug of FIG. 8 inserted into a jack;

FIG. 10 depicts a front view of the plug of FIG. 8 engaging the jack;

FIG. 11 depicts a grounding strip on the substrate of the plug of FIG.8;

FIG. 12 depicts a side view of the substrate and grounding strip of FIG.8;

FIG. 13 depicts a side view of the plug of FIG. 8 inserted into a jack;and

FIG. 14 depicts a top view of the substrate of FIG. 8 with connectiontabs inserted into the vias.

FIG. 15 depicts one embodiment of a high speed communication plug;

FIG. 16A depicts a top layer of the substrate of the high speedcommunication plug of FIG. 15.

FIG. 16B depicts a sub layer of the substrate that is poisoned adjacentto the top layer and FIG. 16 C depicts a middle layer of the substratehaving the same configuration as the sub layer shown in FIG. 16B;

FIG. 16D depicts the bottom layer of the substrate;

FIG. 17 depicts the substrate inserted into a plug housing;

FIG. 18 depicts a view of the substrate inserted into the plug housing;

FIG. 19 depicts a break away view of the high speed communication plug.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A depicts a high speed communication plug 100 that is consistentwith the present disclosure. The plug 100 includes a substrate 102having a first group of vias 104 through the substrate 102 with each via104 being connected to a second via 108 by a trace 106. The trace 106 isformed on a top surface of the substrate 102 and is made of anelectrically conductive material such as copper. A plurality ofinsulation displacement contacts (“IDC”) 112 are positioned in the vias108. The IDC 112 may be made of a metal including, but not limited to,copper. Each IDC 112 is positioned over an opening 110 in the substrate102. Each IDC 112 and opening 110 is configured to accept a wire orcable. In one embodiment, the wire is a 24 gauge cable. In anotherembodiment, the wire is a 26 gauge wire. In another embodiment, the wireis a threaded wire. In another embodiment, the wire is a solid wire.

The openings 110 may be offset at an angle from the horizontal or may beperpendicular to the side surface of the substrate 102. In oneembodiment, a group of openings 110 are offset and a group of openings110 are not offset. In another embodiment, each opening 110 is offset.In another embodiment, the opening 110 is blind and does not exit thesubstrate 102. In another embodiment, each opening is perpendicular tothe side of the substrate 102. In another embodiment, the IDC 112includes a wire guide (not shown).

FIG. 1B depicts a close up view of the via 108 and solder pad 114 withthe IDC 112 removed. The solder pad 114 is formed on the top surface ofthe substrate 102 is and configured to secure an IDC 112 to thesubstrate 102 when an IDC 112 is inserted into a respective via 108. Aportion of the solder pad 114 between the opening 110 and the via 108 issubstantially triangular in shape. An area 116 on the substrate 102between the opening 110 and the solder pad 14 is empty to allow formovement when a wire is inserted into the IDC 112. FIG. 1C depicts aside view of the plug 100 including an IDC 112 installed in a via 108.The IDC 112 is positioned on the solder pad 114 and in the via 108 suchthat the IDC 112 is parallel with the top surface of the substrate. Byinserting the IDC 112 into the via and above the solder pad 114, thecapacitance of the IDC 112 is reduced.

FIG. 2 depicts a top view of a bottom layer of a multi-layer high speedplug. The bottom layer includes 200 includes a first group of vias 202and a second set of vias 204 with half of the first group of vias areconnected by a trace 206 to a corresponding second via 204, and agrounding plane 208 and a plurality of grounding vias 210. FIG. 3depicts a top view of a second layer of a multi-layer high speed plug.The second layer includes the first vias 202 and second vias 204 and agrounding plane 302. FIG. 4 depicts a top view of a third layer of amulti-layer high speed plug. The third layer includes the first vias 202and second vias 204 and a grounding plane 402.

FIG. 5 depicts a top view of a upper layer of the multi-layer high speedplug. The upper layer includes the first vias 202 and second vias 204.The first vias 202 not connected to a second via 204 in the lower layerare connected via traces 506. A grounding plane 500 extends across thesurface of the upper layer in the area of the grounding vias 210. FIG. 6depicts a top layer of the multi-layer high-speed plug. The top layerincludes the first vias 202 and second vias 206 and a grounding plane600. FIG. 7 discloses a top view of a lower layer of the multi-layerplug. The top layer includes the first vias 202 and second vias 204along with the grounding vias 208.

When assembled, the first vias 202 and second vias 204 extend througheach layer of the multi-layer plug. The grounding vias 208 extendthrough each layer of the multi-layer plug electrically connecting thegrounding planes in each layer.

FIG. 8 depicts one embodiment of a plug 800. A first group of vias 804is formed through a substrate 802 with each first via 804 beingconnected to a second via (not shown) by a trace (not shown). Groundingstrips 806 are formed on the sides of the substrate 802 between thefirst group of vias 804 and the second group of vias (not shown). Thegrounding strips 806 are electrically connected to at least onegrounding plane in the substrate 802. The grounding strips 806 areformed on a side surface of the substrate 802 with the side surfacebeing perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate 802. Thegrounding strips 806 may be formed of any conductive material including,but not limited to, gold or copper.

FIG. 9 depicts the plug 800 inserted into a jack 900. The jack 900includes grounding planes 902. In one embodiment, the jack 900 is anRJ-45 jack and the plug 800 is an RJ-45 plug. The grounding planes 902are positioned in the jack 900 such that each grounding planeconductively engages a respective grounding strip 806 on the plug 800.When the plug 800 is inserted into the jack 900, the grounding strips806 and grounding planes 902 create a grounding connection between thejack 900, plug 800 and the circuit board (not shown) connected to thejack 900.

FIG. 10 depicts a front view of the plug 800 engaging the jack 900. Thegrounding planes 902 are in contact with the grounding strips 806 whenthe plug is inserted into the jack. By forming the grounding strip 806on the plug such that the grounding strip 806 is in contact with thegrounding plane 902 of a jack 900 when the plug 800 engages the jack900, manual manipulation of a grounding wire is not required, therebyreducing costs of installing the plug 800. Further, because the plug 800is properly grounded to the jack 900, the performance of the plug 800 isimproved.

FIG. 11 depicts a grounding strip 806 on the substrate 802 of a plug800. Connection tabs 1100 are inserted into the vias 804 to allow forthe connection of wires. The grounding strip 806 may be a thin foil madeof conductive material that is wrapped around a side of the substrate802 and a portion of the top surface and bottom surface of thesubstrate. FIG. 12 depicts a side view of the substrate 802 andgrounding strip 806. FIG. 13 depicts a side view of the plug 800inserted into a jack 900. FIG. 14 depicts a top view of the substrate802 with connection tabs 1100 inserted into the vias 804.

FIG. 15 depicts one embodiment of a high speed communication plug. Theplug 1500 includes a multi-layer substrate 1502 with openings, or slots,1504 formed in the substrate. Securing units 1506 are positioned in eachopening 1504 on a top of bottom surface of the substrate 1502. Aplurality of pins 1508 are positioned on an end of the substrate 1502and two openings 1510 are formed on an end of the substrate 1502opposite the pins 1508. Ground strips 1512 are formed on opposite sidesof the substrate 1502 near the pins 1508.

FIG. 16A depicts a top layer of the substrate of the high speedcommunication plug 1500 of FIG. 15. The top layer of the substrate 1502includes vias 1600 that are sized to accommodate pins 1508. A trace 1602connects each via 1600 and connection pad 1604 positioned near anassociated opening 1504 to a corresponding pin 1508 on an opposite endof the substrate 1502. The connection pads 1604 are identical to theconnection pads in FIG. 1B. The top surface includes traces 1602connecting a portion of the connection pads 1614 to corresponding pins1508 and the bottom surface includes traces (not shown) for connectingthe other connections pads 1614 to corresponding pins 1508 by traces.Grounding surfaces 1614 are positioned on opposite sides of thesubstrate 1502 near the vias 1600. The grounding surface 1614 engagesthe grounding strips 1512 when plug is assembled.

FIG. 16B depicts a sub layer of the substrate that is poisoned adjacentto the top layer. The sub layer includes a grounding plane 1606extending from an area adjacent to the vias 1600 to an area adjacent theside of the substrate 1502 opposite the vias 1600. The grounding plane1606 may formed of any conductive material including copper and copperalloys. Vias 1608 are positioned near each opening 1504 to connect theconnection pad 1604 to the back surface of the substrate 1600. FIG. 16Cdepicts a middle layer of the substrate having the same configuration asthe sub layer. The grounding planes 1606 in the sub layer and middlelayer both include portions that are in electrical contact with thegrounding surface 1614. Each of the vias 1600 and 1608 areconcentrically aligned in each layer to provide a passageway from thetop surface to the bottom surface of the substrate 1502.

FIG. 16D depicts the bottom layer of the substrate. The bottom layerincludes vias 1608 that connect the top layer or the substrate 1502 tothe bottom layer of the substrate 1502 such that pins 1508 inserted intothe vias 1600 electrically connect the top surface to the bottomsurface. A plurality of traces 1612 connect the vias 1600 to theconnection pads 1604 on the surface of the back layer. Each connectionpad 1604 on the top layer and bottom layer of the substrate 1502 ispositioned over a corresponding via 1608 such that each via 1608connects the top layer to the bottom layer. The top layer and bottomlayer of the substrate 1502 include grounding surfaces 1614 positionedon an end of the substrate 1602 near the vias 1600. The groundingsurfaces 1614 are electrically connected to the grounding planes 1606 inthe sub layer and middle layer of the substrate 1502 to provide aconnection between the grounding strips 1614 and the ground planes 1606.In one embodiment, the traces 1612 on the bottom surface are formed forvias 1600 and connection pads 1604 not connected to traces 1602 on thetop layer of the substrate 1502.

FIG. 17 depicts the substrate inserted into a plug housing. The plughousing 1700 may be made of any known material used for makingcommunication plugs including plastic or metal. Each side of the plughousing 1700 includes wire openings 1702 with each wire opening 1704being aligned to an opening 1504 on the substrate. Each wire opening1702 is sized to accommodate a solid core or stranded wire. In oneembodiment, the wire is a #24 wire. In another embodiment, the wire is a#22 wire. The plug can accept any number of wires based on the size anddensity of the substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate accepts asingle pair of wires. In another embodiment, the substrate acceptstwelve pairs of wires. When a wire (not shown) is inserted into the wireopening 1702 the wire is guided by the wire opening 1702 into a securingunit 1506 positioned in the opening 1502 corresponding to the wireopening 1702 such that the wire engages the securing unit 1506 to securethe wire in the opening 1502 and to provide an electrical connectionbetween the wire and the connection pad 604 via the securing unit 1506.

The plug housing 1700 includes grounding openings 1704 on each side ofthe plug with the grounding openings 1704 aligning with the groundingstrips 1512 such that the grounding strips 1512 extend through theopening when the substrate 1502 is inserted into the plug housing 1700.By exposing the grounding strips 1512 through the plug housing 1700, theplug can be grounded to a high speed communication jack without anyadditional crimping or wiring thereby increasing the reliability of theground connection, and reducing the labor required to install and groundthe plug. The plug housing 1700 includes a plurality of pin openings1706 one the end of the plug hosing 1700 opposite the substrate 1502with each pin housing aligning with a pin 1508 on the substrate 1502when the substrate 1502 is inserted into the plug housing 1700.

FIG. 18 depicts a view of the substrate inserted into the plug housing.The securing unit 1506 is inserted into each opening 1504 such that apin 1800 on an end of the securing unit 506 is inserted into the via1608. The securing unit 1506 is positioned over a connection pad 1604with the connection pad 1604 extending around the periphery of the via1608. The securing units 1506 are inserted into openings 1504 on the topsurface and bottom surface of the substrate 1502. The securing units1504 may be made of any conductive material including copper and copperallows. Traces 1602 connect the each connection pads 1604 to the pins1508. The traces 1602 may connect the pins 1800 of a securing unit 1506to the pins 1508.

FIG. 19 depicts a break away view of the high speed communication plug.The plug includes the substrate 1502 having a plurality of vias 1608with each via 1608 having a connection pad 1614 extending around theperiphery of the via 1608 and forming a triangular shape on the side ofthe via 1608 closest to the opening 1502. Securing units 1506 includepins 1800 on one end of the securing unit 1506 with each pin 1800 beingsized to engage a corresponding via 1608. Each securing unit 1506 isinserted into a respective opening 1502 by inserting the pin 1800 intothe via 1608 and positioning the back portion of the securing unit 1506parallel to the surface of the substrate 1502 such that the securingunit 1506 covers the connection pad 1614. Traces 1602 and 1612 extendfrom each connection pad 1614 to a corresponding pin 1508 at theopposite end of the substrate 1502. By positioning traces 1602 and 1612on both on the top surface and bottom surface of the substrate 1502, thesignals transferred on the traces are better isolated thereby reducinginterference. Grounding surfaces 1614 are positioned on opposite sidesof the substrate 1502 near the pins 1508 and provide a groundingconnection between the connection jack and the plug.

In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken toinclude both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference toplural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosureand without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed:
 1. A connector assembly comprising: a jack including anopening, a grounding portion on the interior surface of the opening; aplug including; a substrate having a top layer and a bottom layer; agrounding plane disposed in the substrate between the top and bottomlayers; and a grounding strip disposed on a side surface of thesubstrate in electrical communication with the grounding plane andpositioned such that the grounding strip engages the grounding portionwhen the plug is engages the opening of the jack, wherein the sidesurface is oriented normal to the top and bottom layers, wherein thegrounding strip is electrically connected to the ground plane.
 2. Theconnector assembly of claim 1 including a plurality of openings definedin the side surface of the substrate, wherein a slot from each openingextends into the substrate.
 3. The connector assembly of claim 1including a plurality of pin vias defined in the substrate.
 4. Theconnector assembly of claim 1 including a plurality of wire vias definedin the substrate, wherein each wire via is disposed adjacent to an innerextent of a slot that extends from an opening defined in the sidesurface of the substrate.
 5. The connector assembly of claim 1, whereina connection pad is disposed on one of the top and bottom layersadjacent each of a plurality of wire vias defined in the substrate. 6.The connector assembly of claim 5, wherein the connection pad includes acircular portion extending around the periphery of each of the wire viasand a triangular portion extending from each circular portion toward aslot that extends from an opening defined in the side surface of thesubstrate.
 7. The connector assembly of claim 5 including a trace on thetop layer, wherein the trace extends from a pin via defined in thesubstrate to the connection pad.
 8. The connector assembly of claim 5including a trace on the bottom layer, wherein the trace extends from apin via defined in the substrate to the connection pad.
 9. The connectorassembly of claim 5 including a securing unit having a portion insertedinto the wire via and a portion covering the connection pad.
 10. Theconnector assembly of claim 1 including a second grounding adjacent tothe grounding plane in the substrate.
 11. A method of grounding aconnector assembly, the method comprising the steps of: forming agrounding portion on the interior surface of an opening in a jack;forming a grounding plane disposed in the substrate between the top andbottom layers in a plug where a grounding strip disposed on a sidesurface of the substrate is in electrical communication with thegrounding plane; positioning the grounding strip such that the groundingstrip engages the grounding portion when the plug is engages the openingof the jack, wherein the side surface is oriented normal to the top andbottom layers, wherein the grounding strip is electrically connected tothe ground plane.
 12. The method of claim 11 including forming aplurality of openings defined in the side surface of the substrate,wherein a slot from each opening extends into the substrate.
 13. Themethod of claim 11 including forming a plurality of pin vias defined inthe substrate.
 14. The connector assembly of claim 11 including aplurality of wire vias defined in the substrate, wherein each wire viais disposed adjacent to an inner extent of a slot that extends from anopening defined in the side surface of the substrate.
 15. The method ofclaim 11, wherein a connection pad is disposed on one of the top andbottom layers adjacent each of a plurality of wire vias defined in thesubstrate.
 16. The method of claim 5, wherein the connection padincludes a circular portion extending around the periphery of each ofthe wire vias and a triangular portion extending from each circularportion toward a slot that extends from an opening defined in the sidesurface of the substrate.
 17. The method of claim 15 including forming atrace on the top layer that extends from a pin via defined in thesubstrate to the connection pad.
 18. The method of claim 15 includingforming a trace on the bottom layer that extends from a pin via definedin the substrate to the connection pad.
 19. The method of claim 15including forming a securing unit having a portion inserted into thewire via and a portion covering the connection pad.
 20. The method ofclaim 15 including forming a second grounding adjacent to the groundingplane in the substrate.